Take in the lovely views over the Ria from your upstairs terrace
when you wake up or catch the afternoon sun here for a spot of sunbathing too.

As you descend from your house into Baiona
you will pass what may be the best known monument of Baiona - the Virgen de la Roca, inaugurated in 1930. You can climb up the 15 metres high statue and take in the views from from the boat-shaped look out point in her right hand. If you still have the energy after the climb you can take the children to the huge playground built nearby.

Go for some hot 'churros con chocolate'
for breakfast in one of the terrace cafes of Baiona with views over the port - try Café Monterrey. A sublime start to the day!

Discover the beaches of Baiona town.
There are 6 stretches of sand in the town itself, sheltered from the wind and currents. The 'pirate' Francis Drake landed on the Santa Marta beach in an attempt to attack Baiona. The beach is now one of many Blue Flag beaches in the area.

The beach of the Friars, in Baiona town,
just 80 metres wide, was the favourite bathing place of the Franciscan monks who lived in the nearby Fort of Monterreal. They reached the beach via a door in the fortess walls. The monks had moved by the mid 19th century but the door is still in existence.

Tour the grounds of the medieval Castillo de Monterreal
surrounded by the mighty walls built between the 11th and 17th centuries. There is a small charge for entrance but it is well worth the visit for the beautiful views and the amazing sunsets over the Ria.

Indulge yourself in one of the many spas in the region
which claim to offer benefits not only to your skin but also to your general well-being. Most of all though it is a perfect way to relax. There is one just outside Baiona (Talaso Atlantico) with a sea-water swimming pool and a gym included . It also offers child minding facilities and an excellent restaurant too.

Take a ferry to the Cies Islands,
now a National Park, to enjoy a lazy day on the fabulous beaches of fine white sand. Or walk through the sand dunes to sweet-smelling eucalyptus groves, watch for rare species of birds or enjoy a meal in the islands' restaurant.

Flanking the seaside town of A Guarda is Santa Tecla Hill,
a Celtic settlement now restored and with a museum and a shrine, one of the best of its type in Galicia. The entry price is very low and the views from the top of the hill over the River Miño towards Portugal and the Atlantic are wonderful.

On the way back from A Guarda stop off in Oia,
a little fishing village here the houses are clustered around the former abbey of Santa María la Real. Built between 1195 and 1230 its bold facade faces proudly out to sea.

Tui is a pretty border town on the edge of the Minho River.
Dating from Roman times, and one of the seven ancient capitals of Galicia, the town has much worthwhile architecture scattered through its narrow, granite lanes. If you find the Clares Convent be sure to buy some of the almond cakes made by the nuns who live there.

Explore the regional capital Vigo,
the second largest fishing port in the World. Vigo's setting on the South bank of the ria is outstanding and it's surrounded by parks and pinewoods. Soak up the atmosphere of the cobbled streets around the Rua Pescaderia and walk through the adjacent park to capture some amazing views of the Ria.

Sample some of the best sea food available in Europe
in the many tapas bars and restaurants of Vigo, much of which is uniquely bred in the local Rias. Try the oysters from the A Pedra market area, delicious with a glass of the local Ribeiro wine!

Vigo is justly proud of its Museum 'Quiñones de León'
housed in a Galician Manor house, one of the best preserved of its type. It has nearly 300,000 square metres of parkland and gardens, including English, French and Rose gardens. Also, every summer live performances of all types of music, dancing and theatre are held there.

Follow the wine route.
Starting in A Guarda follow the road along the bank of the Miño towards Tui, and you'll pass through O Rosal, situated in a valley with a perfect climate for all types of fruit and vegetables as well as grapes. Signs on the road will indicate the bodegas you can visit to taste or buy the wine. Whilst there look out for the 19 Folón mills, an unusual set of ancient mills cascading down from the hillside above O Rosal.

Get active!
From go-karting, surfing, tennis, sailing, rambling, horse-riding - almost every activity possible on land, sea or sky can be found nearby in the province of Pontevdra. La Lanzada, Sanxenxo or Playa América beaches are the best places for an active day by the sea.

A Ramallosa, on the way to América beach,
has a splendid medieval bridge across the Miño river and is a source for one of the many Galicia legends. It is here that women who were three months pregnant would come to perform superstitious rites in the hope of guaranteeing a safe and easy birth. Look for St. Telmo's cross on the bridge too.

Visit the animals at Vigo Zoo,
10 kms outside of Vigo city. It has around 400 animals and 150 different species, situated on a hill above the Ria with delightful views. This is the only zoo in Galicia and is dedicated to the conservation of threatened species.

Surfing
Patos beach close to Nigrán is the place to go. It's known as the 'beach of the waves' and there are a couple of surf schools based there too. Added bonus is the view over the Cies, plus the lovely white sand.

Pontevedra, with its beautiful old town,
is not only a feast to the eyes but also the taste buds! Try some Iberian pork, some delicious Spanish cheeses or the unforgettable home smoked salmon from the Meson area situated behind the Town Hall. If you would like to see a bull ring, take the opportunity whilst visiting - Galica's only bull ring is here and the tradition of bull fighting is still strong.

Paddle in the sea and build some sandcastles
at the nearby beach of Playa America - a blue flag beach which the locals consider to be a 'Queen of beaches', due to its clean water, fine sand and excellent facilities.

Shopping!
Baiona is a great place for it and for even more choice try Vigo.
Four shopping centres here selling all kinds of goods - plus take a look at the street dedicated to baskets. While there, visit the gallery displaying Sargadelos ceramics With exceptionally attractive figurines, plates and jewellery of a design unique to this part of Galicia you will find it hard to resist bringing home a piece! (There's also a shop in Baiona.)

Pay a visit to the aquarium at O'Grove,
built on a strip of land almost entirely surrounded by the sea, then walk round the walkways which follow the coast from the port. If you need a rest though you can take a guided tour on the tourist train which lasts about 50 minutes - let the train take the strain!

Panxón Call into the port
where colourful fishing boats line up at the edge of the beach. It's a good spot to stop for lunch with some excellent open-air restaurants offering an amazing choice of seafood.

Seafood at O Grove
For late season visitors to Galicia, indulge yourself at O Grove which becomes seafood party central during the first two weeks of October! Seafood menus, stalls on the quayside, cookery demonstrations and delicious local wines, O Grove has them all. Expect fresh langoustines, crabs, shrimp, octopus and squid plus inshore and deep sea fish. Plus barnacles, a local delicacy.

With Baiona so close by, why not take an evening stroll along the seafront there.
You can contemplate the bay or watch the boats arriving in the Marina. The promendade is more than 5 kms long so you might feel the need to stop for a cool glass of local wine in one of the cafés which line the street opposite. Then watch the sun set over the ria from your terrace at Las Rocallas.